This beginnerswork blog is for parents, grandparents and teachers of young children ages newborn to 6. Often about how to teach young children practical and creative skills... always something to consider... begin here.

SILKII - A Mermaid's Tale

So, I have justentered this book that I wrote and illustrated, in a contest for self-published books. Frankly, I am filled with trepidation. The publishing business is incomprehensible to me, but I love this book and hope that someday Scholastic will publish it and create fabric dolls depicting Silkii and the butterfly.

There...I said it!

When Silkii, a brave young mermaid, explores the air above her lagoon. She discovers and becomes friendly with a butterfly. As we move through the story the butterfly's life cycle is displayed in pictures on the left side, but never mentioned.

Since your beginners have already read the indispensable and wonderful The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle they will surely notice the butterfly developing throughout the story.

I hope they will interrupt the reading (after raising their hands) to point out the egg and the chrysalis and feel very smart, indeed.

Even though Silkii and the butterfly are from very different worlds, they find ways to spend a lovely summer playing on the lagoon between the air and the water. In the end they say good bye when the butterfly must migrate south and the mermaid must hibernate for the winter.

The rhythm of this gentle story makes it perfect for quiet time reading. Silkii's themes of friendship, common ground, life cycles, fantasy/reality are all useful conversation starters for circle time.

I loved creating this book because for twenty years my students loved the story and through it's telling they learned the power and beauty of creating and telling a good yarn.